Schumer: Good Progress Made on Federal Budget

4/20/2017 6:26:05 PM

By Greg Larson

When federal lawmakers return to Congress from their two-week Easter recess next week, they'll have just a few days to approve a bill that would fund the federal budget and prevent a government shutdown. However, New York's senior U.S. Senator says good progress has been made on a final 2017 spending plan. Democratic Minority Leader Charles Schumer says he's one of the four leaders in both houses negotiating a final plan that includes critical funding for entities such as the carrier at the Chautauqua County Airport near Jamestown...

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Another crucial funding item for 2017 is the Community Development Block Grant program, which benefits both Dunkirk and Jamestown. As for 2018, though, Schumer says everything is cut -- except for defense...

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Schumer, who spoke during a press conference Wednesday at Southern Tier Distilling in the Town of Busti, says "if the President leaves it to the four leaders...I think we can avoid a government shutdown." The federal government has been running on a continuing resolution that funds government agencies at 2016 levels. However, that funding mechanism expires on April 28th.